With packed schedules and endless responsibilities, adding one more thing—like earning a Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate—can feel overwhelming. But in today’s fast-growing, competitive job market, this credential offers real, tangible value. If you’re wondering whether the time, money, and effort are worth it, this article breaks down exactly what a PMP is, what it takes to earn, and why it might be the smartest next move in your career.
“Operations keeps the lights on, strategy provides a light at the end of the tunnel, but project management is the train engine that moves the organization forward.”
Joy Gumz, Director of Project Auditors, LLC
If you’re like me, your plate is already overloaded. There’s a section over here, piled high with professional duties, and another section bursting with personal obligations. There’s a little section, akin to the portion reserved for salad on a Thanksgiving spread, for responsibilities I feel I owe my community. Then, on the edge, where I might put the broccoli casserole I am politely making a show of eating, is a negligible section of things like hobbies, self-care and personal fulfillment.
I’m joking, sort of, but the point is this: People are busy, busy, busy. There is just so much to get done, and then you hear about something like a Project Management Professional certificate, and you think, is it really worth it?
The short answer is, well, yes. But if you’re struggling to pull the trigger on making the necessary sacrifices of time, money and effort when it comes to pursuing a PMP certificate, here are some things to consider.
What Is a PMP Certificate?
Probably the most important thing to ask here is, okay, but what is a Project Management Professional certificate? It’s not rocket science: A PMP certificate is a straightforward method of making your commitment to and qualification for Project Management crystal clear. It is an (almost literal) rubber stamp on your resume that makes clear, to both current and potential employers, that you are ready to take on the duties of a Project Manager, having tackled key modules like project management techniques; budgeting, cost and resource planning; stakeholder management strategies and effective team leadership; and conflict resolution.
Why Should You Get One?
It’s true, sometimes a certificate is just a certificate. Sometimes it’s just a line on your resume or a vague demonstration of professional development. But here’s the truth about PMP certification: project managers are in high demand. Between 2021 and 2027, experts expect a 30% increase in new jobs for project managers, with 22 million new project management jobs created by 2027.
That’s good news, but it’s a double-edged sword. More jobs will lead to more applicants, and that means it behooves you to make yourself competitive in the field. It also means more opportunities to prove yourself to be particularly skilled in your role. If you want to be exemplar in a rapidly growing field, it’s worth taking the time to educate yourself about timely, well-budgeted, high-quality project completion.
What Does It Take?
It’s not a giant commitment, like an advanced degree. For a few hours each week, you get to hone your skills and develop new competencies alongside peers and industry leaders. By the end of the program, you’ll have rubbed shoulders with industry professionals, sharpening your skills in important software programs and completely real-world-based, transferrable assignments that will shape the way you approach project management issues in the real world.
What Does It Offer?
First, there are the specifics: strategic planning and scoping; methods of creating a project plan that leverages cutting-edge technology and industry-specific tools; the ins and outs of budget management; tackling risk factors and executing on delivery. Broad-reaching but vital skills, such as stakeholder management and effective communication, are essential to the program as well.
The other intangibles here are numerous. By the end of the program, you’ll walk away with a long list of successful strategies and functional programs just waiting to be emulated. Additionally, you’ll have a store of examples of the kinds of issues faced by real-world project managers in your back pocket, from which to pull when encountering tricky situations in your own professional life. And, of course, the networking opportunities are huge: people to call when you have questions, people to partner with when it comes time for cross-industry collaboration, and people eager to hire from a pool of familiar faces.
But here are the brass tacks: Many job postings require PMP certification, and those that don’t likely place it in that “desired qualifications” section of the job description. There are loads of things you can do to make yourself competitive, but this one is a no-brainer.
Whether you’re jumping into a new role or developing the skills needed to thrive where you already are, a PMP program is the perfect next step. So go ahead: Head back to that buffet line and get another helping of what you need.
Andrew Forrester is a writer whose work has appeared in Parents Magazine, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, and elsewhere. Andrew also teaches English and creative writing in Austin, Texas, and has a Ph.D. in English literature from Southern Methodist University.
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